TAIF, 12 July 2006 — The Interior Ministry has issued a warning to gas station attendants that they cannot lob bricks through the back windshield of vehicles driven by customers who drive away without paying, according to Al-Madinah newspaper.

The warning was issued after a series of window-breaking incidents at gas stations on highways. The ministry is urging these workers instead to note license plate numbers of gas thieves and report them directly to the ministry. In a statement, the ministry said that the act of revenge on gas thieves might provoke them to return and do more damage to the establishment.

Gang of Thieves Uses Sex as Trap

Police have busted a 14-member gang who were luring young men with promises to take them to whorehouses. The gang comprising Africans and Arabs were attracting their victims by displaying to them tempting photographs of young women. They were mainly operating in Hindawiya, Sabeel and Qurayat. One gang member would display the photographs to likely victims and then takes them to a narrow by-lane where other members of the gang would rob them, Al-Madinah reported.

Youth Shoots Father-in-Law

A man in his thirties was arrested on charges of shooting and injuring his old father-in-law following an argument between the two men in the southern city of Abha. A neighbor who tried to stop the son-in-law, who was carrying a dagger as well as a gun, was also injured. Both injured men were taken to hospital while police continue their investigation. Sources say there has been an on-going dispute going on for several years between the youth and his father-in-law.

Man Finds Abandoned Newborn Baby

A man who was on his way home from work after midnight two days ago found an abandoned newborn baby lying in front of his house in the town of Mudhnib. The man picked up the baby and called the police who took the newborn to a local hospital, reported the Al-Jazirah newspaper.

Police Break Up Pornography Gang

The passport department has arrested a three-member gang of Asian expatriates who copied and circulated pornographic CDs. The gang of two women and a man, who was an experienced computer expert, was known as the Dwarf Gang as the three suspects were exceptionally short.

Police officers arrested the group in an apartment in the Sahifa district in Jeddah while they were in the act of copying the CDs. Several computers, scanning devices and copying machines were seized in the raid.

Son Rescues Drowning Saudi

A 57-year-old Saudi was saved by his son after he was swept into deeper water from a beach in Yanbu, Al-Madinah reported. The man, who can’t swim, wanted to cool off in the shallows of the beach but was overtaken by the surf and carried into deeper water where he swallowed seawater and nearly drowned. The 18-year-old son, who had recently taken a Civil Defense course on rescue operations, told the paper that he was happy to apply his knowledge to save his father.

Coast Guards Save Two Indians

Coast guards said they rescued two Indians who were carried away by strong waves from the beach at Dammam. The men, who were out picnicking, were unable to swim to shore and were about to drown when coastguards rescued them.

A 14-year-old boy drowned Friday evening as waves dragged him into the sea at the Half Moon Beach near Dammam.